DEATH STRANDING Creator Hideo Kojima Shares His Review of SUPERMAN: "It's A Heartwarming 'Human' Film"

DEATH STRANDING Creator Hideo Kojima Shares His Review of SUPERMAN: "It's A Heartwarming 'Human' Film"

Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima has weighed in with his take on James Gunn's Superman, and it appears he was mighty impressed with the DC Studios co-CEO's approach to the DCU's Man of Tomorrow.

By JoshWilding - Jul 31, 2025 10:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Superman

Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima is widely considered a visionary and frequently shares movie reviews on social media. They're typically either very detailed or simply an acknowledgement that he's seen something.

The latter is often considered an indication that he didn't like a new release, but Kojima had plenty to say about DC Studios and James Gunn's Superman.

"Since I’ve been on a world tour, I hadn’t had the chance to watch it, but this morning, I finally got to see James Gunn’s 'Superman.' It was good," he shared. "It was neither dark nor stylish, cool or even 'super.' The perspective of the audience—the distance and elevation—is different from the 'Superman' we used to LOOK UP (into the sky) to."

"This film gently observes the human being Clark Kent and Superman as one and approaches him from the same human perspective. It’s a heartwarming 'human' film,'" Kojima continued. "The movie itself wasn’t 'punk,' but 'Punkrocker' by Teddybears, with vocals by our very own Iggy Pop, played during the credits — that part was pure punk, and it was amazing."

Superman has 83% from critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, and 91% on the fan-generated Popcornmeter. The reboot has passed $500 million at the worldwide box office, helping get the DCU off to a decent start after a string of disappointing DC Comics adaptations from the previous regime.

Gunn has yet to reveal what's next for the Man of Steel, though we do expect him to appear in next year's Supergirl movie. Beyond that, there's been a lot of chatter about a World's Finest project or some type of ensemble that puts the Kryptonian front and centre. 

As for Kojima, the world tour he refers to is for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, his latest video game and another critically acclaimed hit.

You can check out Kojima's Superman review in full below. 

Superman, DC Studios' first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures.

In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.  

"Superman is an indescribable joy," we said in our review"A beautiful, moving thrill, David Corenswet is the perfect Man of Steel in a movie packed full of ideas. Fortunately, under James Gunn’s expert direction, all of those work, creating a rousing experience that flies higher than DC has in a very long time."

The movie stars David Corenswet in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Also appearing are Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, María Gabriela de Faría, Wendell Pierce, Alan Tudyk, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Neva Howell, and Milly Alcock.

Superman is now playing in theaters.

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SirReginald
SirReginald - 7/31/2025, 10:47 AM
Wut?
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 10:52 AM
Why do yall love this dude so much? Why does his reviews matter?
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 7/31/2025, 10:53 AM
@MyCoolYoung - I don’t even know who he is.
mountainman
mountainman - 7/31/2025, 10:55 AM
@MyCoolYoung - The Metal Gear Solid series are some of the greatest games of all time. I don’t particularly care about his opinions on movies, but those games are why he is so revered.

I haven’t played Death Stranding or the sequel, but they look so incredibly boring to me. And his movie review takes always are weird, including this one.
BigPhilbowski
BigPhilbowski - 7/31/2025, 11:02 AM
@MyCoolYoung - he's one of the greatest video game creators of all time so that's why he's popular. As to why is movie reviews matter, not a clue. The only thing I can think of is that he's usually very selective of giving things his praise so maybe some people think that when he does, it must be good
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 11:02 AM
@mountainman - I tried to play metal gear solid 5 and death stranding and gave up, but beyond that people go crazy over his reviews.

"He only gave one word review omg"

That shit so lame how much stock people put in other people opinion
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 11:04 AM
@Canyoublush - the guy that makes games. People always wait on him to give reviews and its one of the weirdest things I've seen.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 11:19 AM
@BigPhilbowski - It's just weird to me, but I mean how we, as a community, clamor to Rotten Tomatoes is weird to me.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 7/31/2025, 11:23 AM
@MyCoolYoung - oh ok I was focusing on the chocos and milk. Looks delicious. 😋
ImNotaBot
ImNotaBot - 7/31/2025, 11:35 AM
@MyCoolYoung - I dont think people always waits for his reviews. Kojima is a legend because of the way he made games become more cinematic. The person that elevated games to become more cinematic was Kojima with Metal Gear and hes a big fan of cinema. Look at all the big directors cameos Death Stranding has.

Also Kojima wanted to direct movies since he was very young and he'll direct his first movie after finishing up his last two games.

But yeah i dont know people wait for his takes on movie, its just fun to follow his reviews because he's probably the only video game director that shares reviews of movies.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/31/2025, 12:04 PM
@MyCoolYoung - His reviews matter to some as he watches a LOT of films and doesn't give praise easily, whilst not one to dump on things he doesn't have good things to say about (simply states he has seen it and lack of comment beyond taken to imply not impressed) but when he does like a thing he gives detailed reasons what worked for him and never reads as a fluff piece.

Moreover to some he is considered a creative genius, opinions will vary and most may not know who he is or played any of his highly cinematic video games, but to those who do/have their likely high view of him as a creative mind would give weight to his opinion.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/31/2025, 12:09 PM
@MyCoolYoung - never knew he existed until today 🤓
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 12:35 PM
@ImNotaBot – Everything you just said… genuinely, all of it still comes down to one thing: it's his opinion. If he wants to make movies, let him make movies.

He gets his own article a lot, and no other reviewer—outside of the ones on here—gets that kind of attention, which tells you people are waiting for this guy’s reviews. Even before he started getting articles on here, he would pop up on my Twitter feed, and people would literally say, “I’ve been waiting on him to review The Marvels,” or “I’ve been waiting on this,” and I didn’t even know who he was.

Personally, I don’t care if it’s Feige, Gunn, Nolan, or Louis Le Prince himself—nobody’s review is more important than my own. I just wish the idolization of these people would stop.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 7/31/2025, 12:40 PM
@Apophis71 - Creatives think in a different way than most, so even his reviews are weird. Like the details are like, "it's like daisies running in the wind," like, bro, what the f*ck are you talking about?

Also, the one-word reviews are definitely speaking ill because everyone knows what it implies. If it were, "if you don't have something good to say, you just don't say anything," then he would just never say anything. But people go crazy when he gives the one-word reviews, but I mean, that's just my opinion.

I don't put a lick of stock into anything this guy or the next guy says and I play it stays that way
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/31/2025, 1:02 PM
@MyCoolYoung - Not saying I am into his reviews at all, just another opinion as valid as any other far as I'm concerned but that is why some, not me, pay attention to his comments on films :D

IOW I was answering your question on why some care and put stock in his reviews, not passing judgement either way.
F4ntasticClunge
F4ntasticClunge - 7/31/2025, 10:55 AM

"It was neither dark nor stylish, cool or even “super.”


Pmsl

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But yeah.....

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Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 10:56 AM
It is sad that people are willing to overlook the MANY glaring plot holes and contrivances and the ethical questions some of it raises...making it not a human or competent story. But I guess when you dangle the potential for future work opportunities in front of people they will say whatever is on the script.
amesjazz
amesjazz - 7/31/2025, 11:03 AM
@Forthas - They are willing to overlook all the plot holes and bad decisions only because Gunn is constantly nudging the audience to let them know not to take any of it seriously. Its hard to get into something when the whole thing feels like a big joke.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 11:25 AM
@amesjazz - It is a sad state when a director can get audiences to accept poorly made garbage and for his industry friends to endorse it.
Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 7/31/2025, 11:29 AM
@Forthas - As cliched as it sounds art is subjective and people are willing to overlook the flaws because this is the superman film they always wanted to see apparently. Well if that’s the case then so be it. I am confident that a year from now or at least before the next instalment, people will realise how flawed this movie is. The cracks on the wall will get even bigger and there’s only so much denial or ignorance that one can maintain. As I said before most people love it because superman doesn’t kill, Jonathan Kent doesn’t die and there isn’t a ton of destruction in the second half of the film. Literally the only reasons but if fanboys actually assessed the film without comparing it to man of steel then they would realise it’s dysfunctional and incompetent. Some things work but a lot doesn't but hey people wanted a merry poppins style superman or Sesame Street and they got it. A wise person once said - “never argue with a fool.”
satanicbatman
satanicbatman - 7/31/2025, 12:00 PM
@Forthas - You sound like an entitled dbag. It’s a gd comic book movie ffs.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 7/31/2025, 12:08 PM
@Forthas - dude. I like you.

But, it's sad you got a keep getting in Superman talkbacks and just b1tch about the film and try to convince everyone it was bad.

We get it. You didn't like it. It's like politics; you literally are not going to change anyone's mind either way bro.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/31/2025, 12:09 PM
@Forthas - It is ultimately fairly easy to understand, if someone realy enjoys watching a film they are less likely to notice the flaws and/or more than willing to overlook them and not over think on them. DP&W was riddled with flaws, most of us don't care in part due to the genre but mostly cos warts and all we REALY enjoyed the film :D
Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 12:55 PM
@Canyoublush - In this case the flaws are so much it is hard to justify this film can be accepted as "good". While standards vary, I think at some point people are in agreement that films are to an extent objectively bad. For example most people accept that Wonder Woman 1984 is a bad film and even the studio agrees which is why Patty Jenkins is no longer in the picture and punctuated by its poor box office showing. What I think is different in this case is that we have a studio actively using manipulative tactics to urge people to like something they ordinarily would not. Flooding the RT audience score with positive reviews, getting shills who have RT "critic" status to give biased reviews and making spurious claims about how popular it is supposed to be. I understand that Warner Brothers is desperate but ALWAYS the better option is to put in the work to present the best product that everyone can get behind. Not try to trick people into thinking something is a great product when I bet even the studio knows its not like it is some late night infomercial hawking cheap products.

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Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 12:58 PM
@satanicbatman - What I am entitled to is the TRUTH! It is a comic book movie and a very bad one and when Hideo Kojima comes out and in my opinion shills for the studio, I will make sure I promote what is truth. If that makes me a dbag then I will be...

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Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 1:05 PM
@lazlodaytona -

"dude. I like you."

Awwww!

Let me be clear! I loved Man of Steel. when many people on this site would crap all over it, I did not whine...or call them names...or try to get them to stop talking bad about the film...as if I was some kind of weak minded baby who could not accept criticism. I engaged with people and made my case! I think that is what this comment section is for yet you seem to think it should be a cheerleading section for whatever corporate lord you are serving at the time and that if anyone disagrees with you they should stop because you don't like it. I endured 12 years of people crapping on a film I liked so I get to crap on a film maybe they liked... 11 and a half more years to go!
KamenRider
KamenRider - 7/31/2025, 1:18 PM
@Forthas - I agree that Gunn’s Superman is a highly flawed film, but disagree that people have been tricked into liking it. A good chunk of the film going audience simply enjoy colorful, feel-good, disposable family entertainment. Look at Minecraft. Look a Barbie. Gunn’s film is positioned to take in money for families with small children in a way that other superhero films this year are not. CA4, Thunderbolts, F4, simply because of the looks of those films, let alone the more serious nature of them, won’t attract the same audience. Those also require “homework” on the part of the MCU back catalogue, whereas Superman is a clean slate. It honestly should be doing better.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 1:19 PM
@Apophis71 - "..if someone realy enjoys watching a film they are less likely to notice the flaws and/or more than willing to overlook them and not over think on them."

fair point but what is interesting is the things that people once said were flaws that ruined previous films" are suddenly OK. For example people criticized Man of Steel for Jonathan Kent for an alleged change in character...but are suddenly ok when Jor-Elhas an even more stark changed in character and now it is not a deal breaker. OR When we are told that a film did not represent Superman because he killed Zod....but suddenly a Superman who condones killing a Kaiju that did not do anything wrong, attempted to kill the Engineer (when he dive bombed with her into the ground), and did presumably kill a mindless clone of himself.

It would be one thing if the people commenting on these things were consistent...but when their evaluation is full of double standards then I think it is OK to ask questions and to call them out on it.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 1:21 PM
@KamenRider -

"It honestly should be doing better."

I was just about to comment on this when I got to your last sentence! The two films you listed are billion dollar films, so if people like it so much why is it not doing better?
KamenRider
KamenRider - 7/31/2025, 1:37 PM
@Forthas - I think you know why. WB knows why. Gunn knows why. Gunn diehards know why. The shills know why. They’re getting some families and younger fans to show up, but that’s not enough. There is a ton of resentment for what WB did. Half of the audience is staying home. It’s also not a great film.

WB executives F’ed over the core audience during Josstice League and never fully made things right. They had a chance post ZS Justice League to wrap things up and close out that universe and storyline, but greed made them chase an MCU tone that was never earned. Every film post JL, minus Aquaman was a financial disaster, because they refused to listen to the fans.

Imagine making 2 parts of a trilogy and expect fans to come back in droves for a reboot. That’s where we are at.

I don’t think the DCU will make a ton of money. Maybe the DCU after this one will. There’s too much bad blood. Cavill was back in Black Adam, but Gunn’s greed f’ed that up. Fires him and he keeps his entire cast, Margo Robbie, etc. The average fan sees through his bull$&#&.

KamenRider
KamenRider - 7/31/2025, 1:47 PM
@Forthas - to be clear, I’m a fan of Gunn’s GOTG films, but he and Peter Saffran are greed @$$holes. Saffran was pissed that Gunn refused to do a cameo in Shazam, which he produced. Cavill got axed in the new DCU because of it when Gunn and Saffran’s deal was put in place.

Also, all this bs with Peacemaker S1 being canon, except for THIS or THAT, Blue Beetle being the first DCU film or not, is a joke. This new DCU is built on lies. Gunn is on record saying he DOESN'T GET SUPERMAN, and feels SO BAD about Henry, yet pressure from WB and greed made him suddenly see the light to make a film about….. Krypto….guest starring Superman. That was his IN. The dog. Who is no longer Superman’s dog.

I highly recommend watching the interview with Gunn done by Josh Horowitz around the time of The Suicide Squad. He reveals a lot.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/31/2025, 1:50 PM
@KamenRider -

100%....

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Apophis71
Apophis71 - 7/31/2025, 2:57 PM
@Forthas - Oh it's fair to question and OK to single things out and very much what us nerds have always done ad nauseam, just the excess negativity and politicisation has gotten more common and louder :D

I guess however the other thing, that can work both ways is how time changes a PoV, in the moment a very small thing can seem huge and with the passage of time forgotten or at least realised as much ado about nothing or flipside things we didn't notice start to become more obvious or more problemtic over time with repeat viewings (and a lot may have only watched this months films only once if at all).

To take F4 as an example at the time some made a big deal over the change to Sue Storms powers, same with Mystique as in why did they need to be nekkid when the source says otherwise. Over time some who made a point about that got used to it such that no longer an issue at all whilst others in the wake of the growth in the Me Too movement it became an issue it hadn't been for them before. Then once you have another couple versions to compare things to that changes perspectives of stuff one way or another as well not to mention those who twist stuff to fit a narrative.
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/31/2025, 4:02 PM
@amesjazz - someone say plot holes ?si=yf3Be0v3Yzm3bVQr
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/31/2025, 4:15 PM
@Forthas - can’t be any bad what people say on fantastic four people say they like it but not enough see it again they say it was good not excellent not bad in middle
?si=tst4SBeRrzyfE8H2
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/31/2025, 4:24 PM
@Canyoublush - not all people try be something they are not in life be NON paid movie critic do you go on vacation not pick your vacation how it can be better that’s thinking about work sitting on beach relax enjoy yourself that’s not picking criticism movies get you not all people act like that act as non movie critic you may as well go retail store and unload trucks at 5am in morning and stock shelves for 5 hours for freeee that’s exactly what people are doing see movie not pick it for free not get paid do so as non paid movie critic.,

Many people who know definition of entertainment like see movies for fun time sit down relax forget about real world for few hours but talk about movie what they like and didn’t from start to finish every little stupid second of movie that’s not fun enjoying entertainment that’s working thinking about work on your day off going on vacation sitting on beach thinking about work no one wants do job for free not get paid for it what do people keep acting like non movie critics for not be expecting paycheck for that sounds like fun ?

Canyoublush
Canyoublush - 7/31/2025, 5:09 PM
@dragon316 - sorry wtf are you on about? Vacations, getting paycheques? Just say what you wanna say. You can’t handle this movie getting scrutinised or criticised? Did I hurt your feelings. Awww I’m sorry I didn’t mean too. Please don’t cry about it. What are you five years old? Shall I give you some balloons? 🎈


Btw I was right wasn’t I? I’m arguing with literal children on here. 😆🤣🤣😆
amesjazz
amesjazz - 7/31/2025, 7:25 PM
@dragon316 - I didn't think F4 was that great either but better than Superman.
JayTweIve
JayTweIve - 8/1/2025, 6:44 AM
@amesjazz - Cluelessly cry and laughably fail harder
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 7/31/2025, 11:00 AM
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